TDN Rising Star

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Insights features TDN Rising Star Desert Hero. 2.30 Redcar, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, 9fT DESERT HERO (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status on debut at Haydock in June before finishing third to Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in Sandown's G3 Solario S. and...

Coolmore and Westerberg's 'TDN Rising Star' and G2 Golden Fleece S. victor Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}--Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) allayed any and all concerns that his ability may be blunted by the heavy going and powered through the mud at Doncaster to register a record-breaking 11th renewal for Aidan O'Brien in Saturday's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. The trainer admitted a late scratching might be on the cards if conditions were not suitable for the July 2 Naas maiden winner, but was pleasantly surprised by the state of...

Bringing TDN Rising Star status into Saturday's G3 Virgin Bet Horris Hill S. at Newbury, KHK Racing's Knight (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}--Fidaaha {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) emerged from an intriguing renewal of the seven-furlong staging post with reputation enhanced as he proved top dog among the Classic hopefuls. Tackling testing ground having operated with style on good-to-soft on his impressive debut at Yarmouth Sept. 25, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained full-brother to the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and G3 Prix Imprudence winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and...

It was a case of heads up, heads down at the conclusion of Saint-Cloud's G1 Criterium International on Saturday, with Coolmore's homebred Galileo duo Proud And Regal (Ire) and Espionage (Ire) engaged in a thrilling tussle in which the former ultimately prevailed. Last seen finishing runner-up in the Sept. 11 G1 Vincent O'Brien National S., the Donnacha O'Brien-trained son of the G1 Fillies' Mile and G1 Falmouth S. heroine Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill) who captured the July 21 G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown was asked to keep close tabs on...

Sent away at a well-backed 7-2 in arguably the toughest and deepest 2-year-old maiden of the fall meet at Keeneland Friday afternoon, Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher Racing Operation's Victory Formation (c, 2, Tapwrit--Smart N Soft, by Smart Strike) led past every pole to become the 10th individual winner and the first 'TDN Rising Star' for his Gainesway-based freshman sire (by Tapit). Hustled away from gate three by Luis Saez, Victory Formation headed off his rivals as the field linked up with the track proper and got the opening quarter...

Ecurie des Monceaux's unraced 2-year-old filly Snowpark (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Starlet's Sister {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), a half-sister to Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), went postward at odds of 37-10 for Thursday's Prix de Hotot-En-Auge over one mile at Deauville and returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette after producing an impressive closing burst in the debutantes' heat. Snowpark was swiftly into stride from the inside stall and raced in a close-up third through the early stages. Shuffled down to fifth soon after turning for home, she was shaken up approaching...

Labelled a TDN Rising Star on his winning debut over seven furlongs at Newmarket Aug. 5, Godolphin's Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Really Special {GB}, by Shamardal) was fifth in a strong edition of York's G3 Acomb S. 12 days later before returning to winning ways in a Sandown mile novice Sept. 14. Sent off the even-money favourite for Monday's Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Silver Tankard S. at Pontefract, the Charlie Appleby-trained relative of Dubawi's luminaries Yibir (GB) and Wild Illusion (GB) was sheltered behind the pace early by William...

The immaculately bred Julia Shining (f, 2, Curlin--Dreaming of Julia, by A. P. Indy) looked the unlikeliest of winners as the field for Sunday's sixth race at Keeneland raced down the backstretch, but she found her best stride on the turn, inhaled her rivals with a wide sweep and fought on the to the wire to join her MGISW full-sister Malathaat as a 'TDN Rising Star.' Bet down to 2-1, the Stonestreet homebred broke well enough, but then traveled extremely awkwardly and as green as the turf course, climbing badly...

Nursed back from a deflating heavy defeat in the King George by John and Thady Gosden, TDN Rising Star Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) returned to Ascot's same mile and a half with a flourish to capture Saturday's G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and complete a Frankie Dettori double on QIPCO British Champions Day. Keen initially as she had been last time, the newly-hooded bay was restrained to race halfway down the field trapped wide throughout the early stages. Travelling strongly on the turn into...

Marc Chan's 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Ceilidh House {GB}, by Selkirk) registered a belated first top-level triumph in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de la Foret at the beginning of this month and doubled that tally with a dominant display in Saturday's G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. at Ascot. Ninth contesting last year's renewal of the six-furlong dash, the gelded 5-year-old initiated his latest purple patch with victories over seven furlongs in August's G2 City of York S. and September's G2 Park S. before claiming a career high on...

8th-Keeneland, $110,000, Alw, 10-14, (NW2L), 3yo/up, 6f, 1:10.46, ft, 6 lengths. STROBE (c, 3, Into Mischief--Flashing {MGISW, $633,226}, by A.P. Indy) hoisted his 'TDN Rising Star'-dom even higher for all to see with this monster return off the layoff after needing some more time to overcome minor issues. Sporting an eye-catching 99 Beyer for his unveiling May 7 on the Derby Day undercard--a race where he dominated a field which included eventual GSW Elite Power (Curlin), currently on a four-race win streak--the Godolphin homebred was hammered down to overwhelming 1-5...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency           8th-KEE, $110K, Alw, 3yo/up, 6f, 4:44 p.m. Dubbed a 'TDN Rising Star' for his 4 1/2-length gate-to-wire debut performance on Derby Day at Churchill Downs May 7, STROBE (Into Mischief) returns in the Godolphin royal blue Friday. Given a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for his defeat of Elite Power (Curlin), who has since won four-in-a-row including last weekend's GII Vosburgh S., Strobe enters off a five-furlong work in 1:00 4/5 Oct. 7 (2/19) for trainer Brad Cox. Out of GI Test...